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Carver boys get revenge vs. Northview

DOTHAN – Less than three weeks ago, the reigning Class 6A state champion G.W. Carver Wolverines had their 14-game winning streak snapped by Northview.

It wasn’t going to happen again.

With payback on its mind in the South Regional semifinals, Carver edged Northview 59-49 on Thursday. The Wolverines will play city rival Park Crossing for the regional championship on Tuesday.

“This feels real good," Carver guard Darian Adams said. "This feels great because we lost to them, so we were just seeking revenge and trying to move on as well. Now we’ve got to move on and play Park Crossing.”

It was a different pace than Carver’s 75-73 loss the last time it was in Dothan. The Wolverines’ focus was to lock down the shooter, and held Northview to just 4-for-23 shooting on 3-pointers.

An 8-0 run to open the second quarter provided Carver with breathing room, and the teams essentially traded baskets the rest of the game.

“I thought we played a little better defense, we rebounded more and down the stretch I thought we worked the ball like we had to,” coach James “JJ” Jackson said. “We got into their shooters, their shots weren’t freely falling down the stretch. So that means we made them work and got those legs tired so they wouldn’t be able to step into those shots. Last time we were here those shots were falling all over the court.”

Carver-Montgomery's Darian Adams reaches to block Northview's Roderick Meltons (4) shot during a game in the AHSAA South Regional at the Dothan Civic Center on Thursday.(Photo: JAY HARE / DOTHAN EAGLE)

Antonio Nelson led the Wolverines with 11 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Adams – a Troy signee – had 10 points and Lyndell “Mack” Wilson, an Alabama football signee, had five points and nine rebounds.

One win away from returning to Birmingham, the Wolverines will face the Thunderbirds for the fourth time this season. Carver has won the previous three, all close games, including one by 15 points, with the most recent win coming in the Area 4 finals last week.

“You can’t take anything lightly, can’t be goofing around,” Wilson said. “Everyone has to be serious, everyone has to work hard. It’s hard to beat teams four times in a row, but with the guys that I’ve got, I feel like they’re some savages and they’re ready to do whatever.”

However, the day wasn’t all good news for Carver. Midway through the third quarter, big man Carleton Williams was ejected after punching Northview’s Charles Asouzo. The two dived for a loose ball and were tangled on the floor, which led to the altercation. It was quickly resolved, but the status of the 6-foot-8 senior is unknown for the next game.

“I’m not justifying it. Any punch is not right,” Jackson said. “But we’ll look at it, and kind of roll off what the (AHSAA) says about it. We’re going to go with (whatever punishment the AHSAA decides). We’ll be doing some in-house stuff also. What that might be, we don’t know yet.”

Carver's record improved to 26-4, while Northview ended its season with a 22-11 record.